Binder



E. J. DAVIS Sept. 17, 1940;

BINDER Filed April 3, 1939 v. E Rsfim O R a F .T WW A Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BINDER Edward John Davis, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application April 3, 1939, Serial No. 265,820

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved binder or tray for ledger sheets, loose leaf sheets, cards, record sheets, letters, catalogues, flat samples, or similar articles.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a binder from which the contents may be easily and readily removed either individually or as a unit.

Another object is the provision of a binder in 9 which the contents are securely held and yet are readily available at all times.

Another object is the provision of a binder that may be expanded or compressed from either or both ends.

A further object is the provision of a binder capable of being manufactured in any size and the expansion of each binder being relatively great.

A further object is the provision of a binder of extremely simple construction.

A still further object is the provision of a binder which cannot go out of working order.

There are numerous binders or trays now in use but each of these of any size or capacity is 25 comparatively complicated in construction. This makes them expensive and very liable to go out of working order. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that most of them are made for a specific purpose and cannot readily be used or changed for any other purpose. Furthermore, the range of expansion is extremely limited in the known binders.

A binder according to this invention is extremely simple in construction. It consists preferably of two covers pivotally mounted in independent supports with a portion of each cover projecting beyond its pivot. A back unit in the form of a tray or a plurality of posts connected together in any suitable manner is provided, which unit 'removably rests upon the covers beyond the pivots thereof. The unit is adapted to receive the contents of the binder so that the weight of the contentsactually rests upon that part of the covers beyond their pivots. This normally holds each cover in a vertical or closed position. Theback unit actually is floating as the covers are'so constructed that either or both of them may be pivoted outwardly into open or partially open positions without disturbing the unit and the weight of the contents is adapted to hold the covers in whatever positions they are moved- It is possible to have one cover stationary and the other cover pivoted so that the latter only may bepivoted into open or partially open 55. positions." This binder not only is very simple in construction but it may be used for many purposes while the degree of expansion is limited only by the length of the tray or posts which may be of any desired length and may be interchangeable.

The present invention consists of at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support with a portion of said cover projecting beyond the pivot, and a floating back unit resting on the cover be yond the pivot, said unit being formed to receive the contents of the binder, as more fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a cover of the binder, said cover being in closed position,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the cover in open position,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end binder partly in section,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a connecting bar of the back unit of the binder, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the binder with certain parts broken away for the sake of clarity. I

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the binder preferably consists of a pair of covers A, pivotally mounted in supports B and a floating back unit 0 carried bysaid covers. Each support B consists of a base It! with upwardly extending arms H at the ends thereof. Orifices l2 are formed in the arms ll adjacent their upper-ends.

Each cover A comprises a main cover portion l3 having a reinforcing strip l3a across its inner end, and brackets M at the inner corners thereof. Each bracket I4 is preferably in the form of a segment having a brace l5 extending outwardly therefrom to which the main cover portion I3 is secured in any suitable manner,-such as by screws or rivets l6 which extend through a reinforcing plate I! and through the portion I3 into the brace. A circular lug or pivot l8 extends outwardly from the outer surface of the bracket or segment and is situated at substantially the center point of the curve of said segment. The lugs l8 extend into the orifices I2 of the supports B and act as the pivots for the covers A. With this construction, the covers A are pivotally mounted adjacent their inner ends with a portion of said covers projecting beyond the pivot. A shoulder 20 formed on the outer surface of each segment, is adapted to limit the turning movement of the segment by abutting against the arm H of the base H]. A recess 2| is formed in the inner surelevation of the "20 face of that portion of the bracket projecting beyond the pivot Hi. This recess is preferably arcuate in form with its center coinciding with the center of the pivot H8. The outer edge 22 of the recess may be a continuous curve or it may consist of a plurality of flat surfaces, as shown. The ends of the recess lie substantially at right angles to each other and are situated so that one end is in a vertical position when the cover is in a similar position and the other end is in a vertical position when the cover is in a horizontal position. A groove 23 is formed in the inner surface of each bracket and preferably lies in a horizontal position when the cover is in a vertical position although this is not absolutely necessary. This groove extends from the recess 2i to the edge of the bracket. If desired, threaded studs 25 may be provided, said studs projecting out-.-

wardly from the lugs l8 and being adapted to receive washers 26 and wing nuts 21.

The back unit C preferably comprises a plurality of posts 39 having supporting means or connecting bars 3i slidably mounted thereon adjacent the ends thereof. Each post extends through an opening 32 formed in the bar 35. A locking strap 33 having its central portion bent outwardly, as at M, is held against each bar 3! by a bolt 35 which extends through the strap and is threaded into the bar. The strap is provided with a plurality of openings (it normally registering with the openings 32 of the bar and through which the posts 811 extend. When the bolt 35 is tightened down, the openings 35 tend to move out of registry with the openings 32 sothat the sides of the former openings press against the posts to lock the bar in place. If desired, a suitable tray may be placed upon the posts 3| or a tray may be used in place of the posts.

When assembled, the connecting bars 36 of the back unit 0 extend into the recesses 2| of the portions of the covers A extending beyond the pivots. These bars merely rest upon the edges of the recesses so that the back unit is floating, that is, it will permit movement of the covers without moving itself. As the bars 3! are slidably mounted upon the posts 36, either or both the covers may be moved towards or away from the center of the back unit, to adjust the effective length thereof. If desired, the supports B may be mounted upon a suitable'common base. Suitable punched ledger sheets, loose leaf sheets, record sheets or the like may be mounted upon the posts 30 in the usual manner. These or any other articles may be merely placed upon the posts between the covers or upon a tray resting on the posts or upon a tray used in place of the posts. tical or closed position by the weight of the floating back unit and the contents of the ledger since said weight is applied to those portions of the covers extending beneath the pivots thereof. When the covers are closed, the bars are situated adjacent one end of the slots 2i.

Each cover may be partially or fully opened merely by pivoting it outwardly to the desired extent. As the connecting bar of each cover is only resting in the recess 2i, it does not interfere with the pivoting of the cover until the latter has reached substantially a horizontal position, at which time the bar abuts against the opposite end of the recess. The weight of the back unit or contents of the ledger will hold the cover in any position to which it is moved since the weight is always applied to the cover directly beneath the pivot thereof. In this way, the

ployed in a binder.

The covers A are normally held in a verweight directly below the pivot is always greater than that above the pivot so that the cover remains in the position into which it is moved. As stated above, the outer edge 22 of the recess 2| may be a continuous curve, in which case the cover will remain at any desired angle,-or said edge may consist of a plurality of flat surfaces so that the cover may be moved into a corresponding number of positions. When the flat surfaces are employed, the cover is held more positively in any of the desired positions as it'is more diflicult to move the cover with the bar 3! resting on a flat surface. When there are three flat surfaces, as shown, the cover may be moved between closed semi-open and completely open positions. If desired, the wing nuts 2i may be tightened to hold the covers in any desired position. The shoulders 20 prevent the covers from moving past their horizontal positions. The contents of the binder are pressed together while the covers are closed, and when either or both covers are partially or completely opened, the

pressure is released so that any part or all the contents may be removed from the floating back unit. The entire back unit may be removed by pivoting the covers into their horizontal positions, at which time the connecting bars 3i may be withdrawn from the recesses 21 through the grooves 23.

It is possible that only one cover A may be em In this case, one end of the back unit would be mounted in or upon a suitable support while the opposite end thereof would be mounted in a cover in the manner described. The posts 39 may be of any desired length and each one may be a single length or it may be made in sections.

From the above it will readily be seen that a binder of extremely simple construction has been provided, in which the contents are securely held and yet are readily available at all times, and from which the contents may be easily removed either individually or as a unit. Various modifications maybe made in this invention without departing from the spirit'thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is: l. A binder having at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support, a portion of said cover projecting below the pivot, and a floating back unit resting on the cover below the pivot, said,

2. A binder having at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support, a portion of said cover projecting below the pivot, and a floating back unit removably resting on the cover below the pivot, said unit being formed to receive the contents of the binder. t

3. A binder having at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support, a portion of said cover projecting below the pivot, a floating back unit rest,- ing on the cover below the pivot, said unit being formed to receive the contents of the binder, and means for adjusting the effective length of the back unit.

4. A binder comprising a pair of coverspivotally mounted in supports, a portion of each cover projecting below its pivot, and a floating back unit resting on the covers below the pivots, said unit being formed to receive the contents of the binder.

5. A binder comprising a pair of covers pivotally mounted in supports, a portion of each cover projecting below its pivot, and a floating back,

unit removably resting on the covers below the pivots, said unit being formed to receive the contents of the binder.

6. A binder comprising a pair of covers pivotally mounted in supports, a portion of each cover projecting below its pivot, a floating back unit resting on the covers below the pivots, said unit being'formed to receive the contents of the binder, and means for adjusting the effective lengt of the back unit.

7. A binder having at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support, a portion of said cover projecting below the pivot, recesses formed in the projecting portion adjacent the sides therepivot, and a back unit having supporting means extending into and resting on the edges of the recesses, whereby the cover is held in position by the weight of the back unit.

9. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover'having a pair of brackets in the form of segments at its inner end adjacent the sides thereof, said segments being pivotally mounted at substantially the center points thereof in a support, a recess formed in each segment below its pivot, and a back unit having supporting means extending into and resting on the edges of the recesses, whereby the cover is held in po sition by the weight of the back unit.

10. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover having a pair of brackets at its inner end adjacent the sides thereof, said brackets being pivotally mounted in a support and each having a portion extending below the pivot, an arcuate recess in that portion of each bracket extending below the pivot, the center of said recess substantially coinciding with the center point of the pivot, and a back unit having supporting means extending into and resting on the edges of the recesses, whereby the cover is held in position by the weight of the back unit.

11. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover having a pair of brackets in the form of segments at its inner end adjacent the sides thereof, said segments being pivotally mounted at substantially the center points thereof in a support, an arcuate recess formed in each segment below its pivot, the center of said recess substantially coinciding with the center of the pivot, and a floating back unit having supporting means extending into and resting on the edges of the recesses, whereby the cover is held in position by the weight of the back unit.

l2. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support, a portion of said cover projecting below the pivot, and a floating back-unit having a plurality of posts and at least one connecting bar mounted upon said posts adapted to rest on the cover below the pivot thereof.

13. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover pivotally mounted in a support, a portion of said cover projecting below the pivot, and a floating back unit having a plurality of posts, at least one connecting bar slidably mounted upon said posts adapted to rest in the cover below the pivot thereof, and means for locking the bar in any desired position upon the posts.

14. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover having a pair of brackets at its inner end adjacent the sides thereof, said brackets bein pivotally mounted in a support and each having a portion extending below the pivot, a recess in that portion of each bracket extending below the pivot, and a back unit having a plurality of posts, and at least one connecting bar mounted upon said posts adapted to extend into the recesses of the brackets, whereby the cover is held in position by the Weight of the back unit.

15. In a binder, the combination of at least one cover having a pair of brackets in the form of segments at its inner end adjacent the sides thereof, said segments being pivotally mounted at substantially the center points thereof in a support, an arcuate recess formed in each segment below its pivot, and a back unit having a plurality of posts, at least one connecting bar slidably mounted upon said posts adapted to extend into and rest on the edges of the recesses of the segments, and'means for locking the bar in any desired position upon the posts.

EDWARD J OHN DAVIS. 

